Religiously Responding to Outrages in Libya and Egypt

The National Council of Churches issued a not bad statement about the murder of American diplomats in Libya by radical Islamists. Here it is:

“Persons of faith and good will everywhere are deeply distressed by reports that U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three of his staff were killed in an attack Tuesday on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya.

The attack has been appropriately condemned by both the U.S. and Libya governments. Member communions of the National Council of Churches USA denounce this mindless violence as a travesty and mindless rejection of the historic precepts of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, which are based on God’s love and a peaceful regard for all God’s people.

Our hearts and prayers go out for the families and loved ones of Mr. Stevens and the other victims of the attack. We are sadly aware that this attack took place on the 11th anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. We reiterate a statement we made we made then and ask all people to abide by its call: “We assert the vision of community, tolerance, compassion, justice, and the sacredness of human life, which lies at the heart of all of our religious traditions.”

The statement would have been stronger had it mentioned that the killers were radical Islamists. But it commendably avoided mention of the obscure anti Islamic film that supposedly inspired anti-American Islamist violence in Libya and Egypt.

Less admirably the head of the liberal New Evangelical Partnership for the Common Good focused on incendiary Florida clergy Terry Jones as the main problem. Infamous for burning a Koran, Jones reputedly touted the new anti Islamic video.

“I have no sympathy for anyone who would assassinate a US ambassador,” said United Methodist clergy Steven Martin, who co-founded his group with liberal evangelicals Richard Cizik and David Gushee. “But I have even less sympathy for filmmakers who spread hatred and for pastors who knowingly incite violence.” So crazy Rev. Jones is apparently worse than Islamist killers.

“Those who attacked Amb. Stevens, thanks to sociopaths like Terry Jones and filmmaker Sam Bacile [who’s possibly not a real person], believe we are a violent people bent on domination,” Martin intoned. “Sadly, there is some truth to that perception.” He also reported: “Regrettably, Christian Evangelicals have a reputation of standing on the side of exceptionalism and even bigotry. It’s high time that we evangelicals listen to the command of Jesus to love our neighbors, even our enemies, and that those of us who strive to follow this command get out and speak, in the spirit of love, to those who sow seeds of fear and hate. Sam Bacile and Terry Jones must be stopped. Evangelicals are the ones who can stop them.”

A few years ago Rev. Martin produced his own video exposé of IRD called “Renewal or Ruin,” which darkly portrayed IRD as the centrifuge of a vast plot to subvert United Methodism from its rightful liberal control. It was flamboyantly absurd. We at IRD enjoyed it!! And a few zealous IRD critics likely relished having their worst fears confirmed. Probably nobody else saw it. Maybe IRD should have rioted over Rev. Martin’s “hate” film that insulted our religious beliefs. But we preferred to believe that in America everybody is rightfully free to say what they want.

In contrast, murderously radical Islamists reject freedom and would have us all fall prostrate before their slavish whim, if they could. God willing, they will never prevail.

Well, Obama is weak on foreign policy he is no Reagan. Two, Ron Paul has pushed the right also to be weak on defense and some of Ron Paul’s followers are evangelical Christians.

Donnie

I’d argue Ron Paul is even worse on foreign policy matters than Obama.

Sadly Steve Martin’s (I refuse to call him Rev) opinion seems to be the default with the religious left. I saw a lot of people attacking Jones (though he had nothing to do with this) and the film, but not wanting to say anything bad about the terrorists who did this.

Most of these same people refuse to acknowledge Christian persecution in the Middle East for fear of offending Muslims.

It is a truly dark day in America when supposed Christians won’t speak out against persecution of their own brothers & sisters.

http://4simpsons.wordpress.com/ eMatters

“So crazy Rev. Jones is apparently worse than Islamist killers.”

That’s the bizarre world of the religious Left, where exercising freedom of speech is worse than murder.

http://4simpsons.wordpress.com/ eMatters

And does Rev. Martin not think that Obama taking out Bin Laden had anything to do with Muslim anger? (Not to mention Obama’s incessant spiking of the football over the killing). I supported taking him out, btw, I just can’t see how Liberals are so inconsistent on the death and its impact in the Muslim world.